Tax revenues in Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) increased to 23.1% of GDP on average in 2018, according to the new edition of Revenue Statistics in Latin America in the Caribbean published today. However, these gains are now under threat as a result of the region’s deteriorating fiscal outlook, which has been exacerbated by the COVID-19 pandemic and the global economic crisis.

Funds will increase capacity of national healthcare system, with focus on hard-hit Guayas province
The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) has disbursed approximately $25.3 million to the government of Ecuador to strengthen its healthcare services and help meet the medical needs of individuals affected by COVID-19, the disease caused by the novel coronavirus.
The funds will be used primarily to prepare intensive-care-unit beds in 28 hospitals and provide protective gear for medical staff in Guayas province.

The Group will finance a response to the public health emergency; safety nets for vulnerable populations; economic productivity and employment; and fiscal policies to ameliorate economic impacts.
The Inter-American Development Bank and IDB Invest have outlined their focus for deploying the financial and technical resources made available to borrowing member countries and companies to address the crisis created by COVID-19, the disease caused by the coronavirus.

Latin America and the Caribbean (LAC) need to strengthen governance and integrity mechanisms to improve the quality and implementation of public policies, reduce corruption and increase public trust in government, according to the third edition of Government at a Glance: Latin America and the Caribbean 2020.

The 34th meeting of governors of Central American and the Dominican Republic, to be held in El Salvador, will debate the region's new development challenges and how to address them
Governors of Inter-American Development Bank member countries from Central America and the Dominican Republic will gather February 21-22 in San Salvador, the capital of El Salvador, for their 34th annual meeting to address the challenges that the region faces in this new decade.

The study commissioned by the IDB Lab also shows that 54% of women entrepreneurs in STEM have raised capital
Women entrepreneurs in science, technology, engineering and mathematics are on the rise in Latin America and the Caribbean, with 54% successfully raising angel or venture capital and almost 80% planning on scaling up their company internationally in the next five years, according to the new study “wX Insights 2020: The Rise

The issuance of $400 million will provide access to housing for more than 24,000 families and will mobilize approximately $1.35 billion in investments
Ecuador has issued a Sovereign Social Bond in the international market for $400 million, becoming the first country in the world to make this type of placement.

Digital transformation, rural and productive development programs in the Dry Corridor, and improvement of the climatic resilience of forests will be financed through loans and donations
Digital transformation for increased competitiveness

MADRID, Spain ‒ The Inter-American Development Bank (IDB) announced the creation of the Green Bond Transparency Platform (GBTP), an innovative digital tool that brings greater transparency to the Latin American and Caribbean’s green bond market. The announcement was made at an event hosted by the IDB during the United Nations Climate Change Conference (COP25), under the presidency of Chile, in Madrid, Spain.